MMA fighter Jeff Monson, in an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net, supported the statement of UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev that Russia is the strongest country in the world of martial arts.
"What Makhachev said is not just his opinion. It's a fact. If you look at who is currently dominating the UFC and other major organizations, you will see it for yourselves. Russia has champions and top fighters in practically every weight class.
When I first came to Russia, I knew that this would happen. That was 13 years ago, when MMA wasn't yet that popular. I conducted master classes for children in judo and wrestling and said: if these guys start doing jiu-jitsu, and transition into MMA, they will become the best in the world. And that's what happened. Not because I am a genius, but because Russian athletes are ambitious, hungry for victory, want to learn, and want to be the first.
"What do we see now? Half of the top fighters in every category are Russians. And a new generation of hungry guys from different regions is growing now. Give them an opportunity, and they will take the world of martial arts by storm. It will be a surprise for the world, but not for those who have seen their journey. This is not an accident. This is only the beginning of Russia's dominance in MMA," Monson added.
At UFC 322 on November 16, Islam Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision, became the welterweight champion, and topped the P4P rankings. After the fight, he stated: "We have the strongest country!"
